Coop Daley:

Today we are going to be breaking down the ’Cats chances at a bowl postseason berth by going game by game and just picking how we think we'll do. So let's jump right into it. We’ve got the season opener on Saturday, Oct. 24 in prime time against Maryland. I personally think that's going to be a good way to start the season with a win.

Maryland:

Jordan Landsberg:

Yeah, I do, too. I noticed that Northwestern did beat Maryland 37 to 21 when they played in 2017, so they have that under their belt. They know that they beat them at home before, so I think this game is for sure, winnable. They both finished 3-9, with a 1 and 8 record in the conference, so both teams have something to prove. It should be an interesting game, but I do think that the cats can pull away with a win.

Justine Banbury:

I definitely think Northwestern has a chance, and we kind of really need it. If we start off the season with a loss, especially to a team like Maryland, who we don't need to be losing to with the same record as we had last year. However, I don't think there's going to be really that much home field advantage right now, just because there's no fans anywhere.

Jordan Landsberg:  

Still the cold weather in Evanston versus Maryland, just playing on the field, they still have home field advantage and playing on the field that they're familiar with. But I also think that Maryland is not as great of a football program as Northwestern. I think that Northwestern just had a very off year last year, and that they are a step above them in terms of coaching, their roster and their potential. So I think that this is somewhat of a must win for them to get themselves on the right on the track, back to where they were before last year.

Coop Daley:  

And just a fun thing to keep on the radar, if the ’Cats win against Maryland next Saturday, it will be Fitz’s 100th win as a head coach. I think the ’Cats will be hungry. I think after last season, they were kind of like we have the pieces here to try it again. I think a win against Maryland would be a good way to get on track.

Iowa:

Coop Daley:

All right, next up, not as great. We got Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. Personally I am not as big of a believer in that one.

Jordan Landsberg:

Yeah, Iowa is a tough team and known to be tough playing at Iowa as well. Even without fans, still a pretty formidable place for a team to come into. Iowa is very tough, they finished 10 and 3 last year. For me, I just always remember Michigan being a top team and being undefeated, I want to say 4/5 years ago, and coming into Iowa, an unranked team, and losing. Iowa just has that in them, to pull it off versus whoever, and I think that this will be tough for them. Northwestern got shut out last year, 20-0, I think that they might have trouble this Halloween.

Justine Banbury:  

Yeah, I was just gonna bring that up too, I kind of feel like it was one of those teams that's consistent and always on the cusp of being great. Their coach is also like a million years old, he’s got a ton of experience, so it's not going to be easy at all.

Jordan Landsberg:  

Northwestern did beat Iowa in 2016, 2017, and 2018. So they definitely have it within themselves to do that. It's just a matter of what happens the first week. I think that really sets the bar for how they'll play. If they win, they'll have that increased confidence after starting the season 2-0.

Coop Daley:

Yeah, and going off what you said about no fans ... what do you guys think about Kinnick Stadium being empty? Because none of the Big 10 schools  are allowing fans for at least for these first couple games. Do you think that not allowing fans is going to have a positive impact on the ‘Cats?

Justine Banbury:

I honestly think it will. Think about our stadium and the vibe of our stadium vs. every other school in the Big 10. If anyone's used to no fans, it's us! Honestly, I think it might affect other schools like Ohio State, who’s used to hearing so many people and working off their student section. Now, they're going to suddenly be in silence, whereas Northwestern honestly already had that sometimes — our football games aren't that intense.

Jordan Landsberg:

It can help them on the road as well when they are on offense and opposing fans typically distract them. That they won't have to deal with either.

Nebraska:

Coop Daley:

So next up on the schedule at Ryan Field, Scott Frost and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Whenever I see Nebraska on the schedule, at least in recent years, I think to myself, That could be a good win for the ‘Cats, just because the Huskers like to talk a lot of smack and everyone likes to put them up high in preseason polls every year, but I don't think they're as good of a team as everyone likes to say.

Jordan Landsberg:  

I agree. I remember just watching them two years ago in 2018. They were really, really not great. I remember watching them vs. Michigan and vs. Northwestern and they just really did not have it. In the last four years, Northwestern and Nebraska are 2-2 vs. each other. I do think that Northwestern can come back and take control of the series. I think that they can win this game. They lost last year on a really down year, but they have a history of beating teams like Nebraska.

Coop Daley:

Every year, ESPN or the AP says Nebraska is finally gonna turn the corner. “They have Scott Frost, their prodigal son returning! They have a decent QB in Adrian Martinez and the defense is leveling up!” And then every year they go like 3-9 and then 5-7. I would say maybe this is the year where they finally post a winning record, but I just have not seen enough from Nebraska to believe the hype. Also, Nebraska has a tough schedule in front of them and by the time they get to Northwestern, they might be hungry for a win. But I think if Northwestern wants to prove themselves with their high flying offense, I think they're going to try to beat out Nebraska as best they can.

Justine Banbury:

What do you guys think needs to fall into place for Northwestern? Northwestern fans think we have a lot of promising pieces this year that are going to make us have a better season than last. But it could all fall apart. What are the biggest things you guys think need to happen for Northwestern to be beating these teams that we’re on the edge with?

Jordan Landsberg:

I think they need stable and solid quarterback play. We saw last year how unwatchable they were and how bad they were on offense. I think that a strong leader, like they think they have in Peyton Ramsey, can elevate the offense to a new level.

Coop Daley:

I think if you look at the offense, there's a lot of great pieces there. You have Mike Bajakian at the helm, you have Peyton Ramsey at QB, and then you have the running game. We’re talking about Isaiah Bowser, Drake Anderson and even the underrated Evan Hull. I think if the offense can just hold, then the defense can be stable enough to buoy the team to wins. They're not going to be blowouts, but I think they could have maybe 2-3 point victories here and there. So I'd say Maryland and Nebraska are two wins, and I would hope Iowa.

Purdue:

Coop Daley:

And then the fourth game, they go into West Lafayette and take on Purdue.

Jordan Landsberg:

Purdue as a team, I know they can beat. Northwestern has beaten them 4 out of the last 5 years, and they came so close last year when they were very, very bad. But we are expecting Northwestern to be much better this year.

Justine Banbury:

Something to watch out for is Purdue’s wide receiver Rondale Moore just opted back in. He's a huge piece on their offense. So you guys were saying our defense might just need to do their job and not stand out, but against some of these teams they're going to need to do more than their minimum job.

Coop Daley:

I think losing Willock at safety is going to be a bigger blow than we think, just because I think the ‘Cats have always had a legacy of strong safeties. You mentioned 4 out of 5, and then we lost on the last second field goal last season, which I would say the worst season in Northwestern for the in last half of a decade. I just feel like Purdue is one of those games that you should definitely mark on this schedule as a should win.

Wisconsin:

Coop Daley:

This is one that I think we might all agree on pessimistically, Nov. 21, Wisconsin at Ryan Field.

Jordan Landsberg:  

Unfortunately, this game is not at Wrigley like it was supposed to be, which would have been really, really cool. I'm not as confident this year for Northwestern vs. Wisconsin, at least right now. Right now, I would say it's a tough game, looking at it from the beginning of the year, but we'll see as the season goes on. We'll see how well Wisconsin performs; they're missing Jonathan Taylor who went to the NFL and that was a huge part of their offense during the last couple of years. So let's see how they respond to that.

Coop Daley:

They have Fields though, right? And Jack Coan is still their QB.

Jordan Landsberg:  

I don’t know, I heard Jonathan Taylor was just like the guy. And the other players are good but Taylor was just that much better than everyone else.

Justine Banbury:

Everything I was reading was saying Wisconsin and Ohio State, they're the ones to watch out for.

Jordan Landsberg:

We’re still not sure how strong the Big 10 West will be, also.  

Coop Daley:

The only thing that I'm thinking that always comes up in the stories is how in almost every game the ‘Cats play Jonathan Taylor, they held him close to 100 yards rushing, which is pretty decent for a talent like him. And when the ‘Cats played Wisconsin last year, they held their own kind of well, they only held them to 24 points. So do you think they have a chance to kind of hold on to that? Or do you think it'll be a runaway game for Wisconsin?

Jordan Landsberg:

See, as I mentioned before, I think it's too early to tell. I think if Northwestern starts off strong, then the game could easily be in their reach. But I think if it's another year like it was last season, then Wisconsin will run away with it.

Justine Banbury:

I agree with that. I think so much of our season is going to depend on our momentum. Say we had a ton of confidence beating Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, we could go into this game feeling really good. Or we could go in unranked.

Michigan State:

Coop Daley:

So then, I'm actually excited for this one, just because I think it'll prove something, ‘Cats are going to Michigan State Thanksgiving weekend. I think there’s actually a chance for the ‘Cats to get back on top of this inter-divisional rivalry. I think that the Spartans are dealing with a new coach, Mel Tucker, who was average in Colorado, and I think a program being left by as strong of a coach as Mark Dantonio is going to need a year to redevelop.

Jordan Landsberg:

They have a new Quarterback too. I would say this game is within the ’Cats reach. They have always been in it with Michigan State (besides last year) and they've won the majority of the games. So I think that they will have adrenaline vs. their big rival too.

Justine Banbury:

I agree. I was just gonna bring up their old record vs. Michigan State and say we always hold our own against them. I think it's tough, looking at it from MSU’s perspective, new coach after D'antonio was there 13 years, I think it's gonna be tough to fill that role right away. I think they're going to be going through a lot of transition this season and it might be time to capitalize on that.

Jordan Landsberg:

This could be a must win game for Northwestern if they want to make a bowl game.

Justine Banbury:

A shortened season is so hard and with no breaks between weekends, I just think our team is going to be approaching this season differently. Every game is a must win.

Minnesota:

Coop Daley:

Next up is going to be at Minneapolis, against P.J. Fleck's rowin’ the boat Minnesota. I don't have a good feeling about Minnesota, although I wish I did. I do think the program has become stronger in recent years.

Jordan Landsberg:

It’s also just a brutal environment to play in at the beginning of December outside in Minnesota. It is another level of cold than it is here. Northwestern will have that going against them too.

Justine Banbury:

I just felt that Fleck is well known to be a pretty good coach, and they've got a really strong offense this year. Their wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who is pretty tough to deal with, re-enrolled. Again, I think it's just going to depend on our defense. We lost a lot of guys last year, our defense is going to be younger and I definitely think this is not going to be an easy one.

Jordan Landsberg:

I was gonna say this might be the toughest one, honestly. Minnesota had a better record than Wisconsin did last year, and Northwestern is away this game. It's at the beginning of December and I just think the conditions couldn't be worse for them in this game.

Justine Banbury:  

Well, you know also, this will be the 7th game, no breaks. We definitely might be getting into some injuries. All the other teams are too, but it's going to be draining.

Illinois:

Coop Daley:

To finish off regular season play, battle for the Hat against Illinois. This is one of those that I feel like if the ‘Cats don't win, the program is going to die. It's been 4 or 5 straight Hats for the ‘Cats. Just pure dominance. I think if any semblance of the old program is still with the team, it'll be a good day in Evanston.

Jordan Landsberg:

They were able to beat them last year, even when Illinois almost went 500. I would say they will close out the year with a “W” against Illinois.

Justine Banbury:

Yeah, I think this’ll be a great win to the end the regular season. Who do you guys think is going to be our Week 9?

Division Matchup:

Jordan Landsberg:

So I think they might end up being matched up with Rutgers, Maryland and Indiana.

Coop Daley:

I would say Indiana, just because they've had decent campaigns, especially last year. Of course, we stole their quarterback and I think that would be a decent way to end the season before a bowl game.